Loading conveyor for elevator

ABSTRACT

A device for transferring a pallet load between a horizontal and vertical conveyor or elevator which can compensate for large differences in alignment between the load supporting surfaces of the conveyors and which supports the trays of the vertical conveyor during the transfer of the load. A pair of wedges associated with the horizontal conveyor are shifted under the tray after the vertical conveyor is stopped at a transfer station to support the tray during transfer of the load. The horizontal conveyor is supported by the wedges as it is moved into transfer contact with the trays.

United States Patent [1 1 Kornylak Andrew T.

[ LOADING CONVEYOR FOR ELEVATOR [76] Inventor:

St., Hamilton, Ohio 45011 [22] Filed: Aug. 15, 1968 [21] Appl. No.:752,912

[51] Int. Cl. B65g 17/34 [58] Field of Search 198/20, 158; 214/1616 A[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,133,565 3/1915 Kankkonen198/158 X 2,663,446 12/1953 Romain 214/1616 A Andrew T. Kornylak, m a

[ Sept. 18, 1973 Primary Examiner-Edward A. Sroka Att0meyJay M. Cantor[57] ABSTRACT A device for transferring a pallet load between ahorizontal and vertical conveyor or elevator which can compensate forlarge differences in alignment between the load supporting surfaces ofthe conveyors and which supports the trays of the vertical conveyorduring the transfer of the load. A pair of wedges associated with thehorizontal conveyor are shifted under the tray after the verticalconveyor is stopped at a transfer station to support the tray duringtransfer of the load. The horizontal conveyor is supported by the wedgesas it is moved into transfer contact with the trays.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Patented Sept. 18,1973 3,759,364

4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ANDREW. 7'; KORA/YL AK Bimi W Patented Sept.18, 1973 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR ANDREW 7 KO/P/VYLAK BY WiflWPatented Sept. 18, 1973 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 -.|il l m m mm Om ANDREW T.KOR/VYLAK Patented Sept. 18, 1973 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR ANDREW 7'.KOR/VYL/JK mm mm mm mm Nm 00- NO ill; .3.

LOADING CONVEYOR FOR ELEVATGR This invention relates to a conveyor andmore particularly to a conveyor for use in loading a vertically movableelevator and other types of vertical conveyors.

In U.S. Pat. No. 3,365,052 there is disclosed a material handling devicecomprising a pair of parallel sprocket chains carrying a plurality ofshelves pivotally arranged thereon. The shelves are horizontallyarranged to carry material between vertically disposed stations and arepivoted into a vertical position while moving from one end station tothe other end Station. It has been found that the shelves do not stop inexact alignment with the loading and unloading stations and themechanical devices used for loading and unloading cannot be used tillthe alignment of shelves and stations is within certain closetolerances. It has also been found that the pivot structure forconnecting the shelves to the chains and guiding them in the tracks isburdened during loading and unloading whereby to promote excessive wear.

It is an object of this invention to provide a mechanical device forloading and unloading an elevator as aforesaid in which the alignment ofthe shelves and stations does not require a fine degree of tolerance.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a device asaforesaid in which the shelves are supported, during loading andunloading, in a manner to reduce the loading on the pivot structure.

These and other objects of the invention will become manifest uponreading the following description in conjunction with the accompanyingdiagrammatic drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the elevator of this invention,

FIG. 2 is a view showing the support for a shelf during the loading andunloading thereof,

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the mechanical device in the loading andunloading position,

FIG. 4is an elevational view showing the mechanical device in thestorage position,

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing the carriage mechanism for a conveyordevice, and

FIG. 6 is an end view taken on the line 66'of FIG. 5.

In FIG. 1 there is shown in a broken view a single load carrying shelf 2pivotally mounted on sprocket chains 4,6. The pivotal mounting isdescribed in great detail in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,365,052to Andrew T. Kornylak but other pivot mountings could be used ifdesired. The chains are driven in a manner disclosed in said patent. Apair of roller tracks 8,10 are mounted on each shelf for supporting thematerial to be transferred between vertically arranged stations. Eachtrack comprises a plurality of rollers 12 rotatably mounted in a channel14. A sprocket 16 is secured to each roller and a chain 18 is trainedover the sprockets to drivably interconnect the rollers 12. A gear 20 isse? cured to the end rollers ofeach track for supplying power to rotatethe rollers through the chain and sprockets. A pair of rollers 21 arerotatably supported at the edge zone of each shelf for a purpose to bedescribed below. 7

A transfer conveyor 22 comprising a pair of tracks 24,26 securedtogether by members 28,30 is shiftably mounted to move between aposition adjacent a loading conveyor 32 as shown in FIG. 4, to aposition adjacent the elevator as shown in FIG. 2, to convey thematerial comprising the load between the loading conveyor and theappropriate shelf of the elevator. Each track comprises a plurality ofrollers 34 rotatably mounted in a channel 36. A sprocket 38 is securedto each roller and a chain 40 is trained over the sprockets to drivablyinterconnect the rollers. A gear 42 is secured to the end rollers ofeach track for receiving power from the chain and sprocket drive 40,38.An idler gear 44 is rotatably mounted on each track in permanentengagement with the gears 42. When the conveyor 22 is shifted into theposition illustrated in FIG. 3, gears 44 are brought into engagementwith gears 20 to drivingly interconnect the rollers of the tracks.

The power for driving the rollers is provided by a chain and sprocketmechanism driven by a motor carried by the conveyor 22. A shaft 46 isrotatably mounted by tracks 24,26 and has secured in driving engagementtherewith the end rollers and sprockets of the tracks. A sprocket 48 issecured to one end of shaft 46 and is driven by a chain 50 trained overa sprocket 52 rotatably mounted on track 26 and driven by a fluid motor54 mounted on the track.

The channels 36 are pivotally mounted on a carriage which islongitudinally shiftable along guides 56,58 and are supported for travelover ramps 60,62. The carriage comprises a pair of plates 64,66 fixedlysecured to channels 68,70 to provide a rigid frame. Channels 72,74 aresecured to channels 36 and are pivotally mounted on plates 64,66 bymeans of pins 76. Wheels 78 are rotatable in and guided by the channels56,58 and support the frame for the longitudinal shifting motion.Supporting rollers 80 are secured to the other ends of channels 36 tosupport the channels for movement over the ramps. A cylinder 82 ispivotally mounted on a support 84 and reciprocably mounts a piston 86having a rod 86 flexibly secured to channel 68 to compensate formisalignment of the parts. The piston and cylinder operates as a fluidmotor to longitudinally shift the conveyor 22 as heretofore described. Apair of wedges 90 are supported by wheels 92 for longitudinal shiftingfrom a retracted position as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 to a supportposition illustrated in FIG. 2. The wheels are constrained for guidedmovement by channel shaped guides 96 and support the wedges againsttipping when moved into supporting position for the shelf. A fluid motorcomprising'a cylinder98 having a piston and a piston rod 100 isconnected to each of the wedges by a flange 102.

The loading conveyer comprises a pair of tracks 102,104 similar totracks 24,26. A shaft 106 is rotatably mounted by the tracks and isdrivingly connected to the end' rollers and sprockets of tracks 102,104in the same manner as the end rollers and sprockets of tracks 24,26. Theshaft has secured thereto at one end a sprocket 108 driven by a chain110 trained over a sprocket 112 powered by a fluid motor 114 carried bya shelf 116. 1

In loading operation, a load is placed on the loading conveyor 32 andmotor 114 is energized by shifting handle 118 to connect a source ofpressure fluid 120 to the motor by conduits 122,124. The motor operatesthe chain and sprocket device 108,110,112 to rotate the rollers of theloading conveyor to move the load thereon to the transfer conveyor 22.Operation of handle 126 energizes motor 54 by connecting the source ofpressure fluid 120 to the motor by conduits 128,130. The motor operatesthe chain and sprocket device 48,50,52 to rotate the rollers 34 of theloading conveyor 22 to move the loadtoward the elevator. The handle isactuated to stop the load while it is supported on the conveyor 22.Operation of handle 132 will supply pressure fluid from the source 120through conduits 134,136 to the cylinder 98 to move the wedges 90 intothe position shown in H6. 2 wherein to engage the rollers 21 forsupporting the shelf. Handle 138 is then operated to supply pressurefluid from source 120 to cylinder 82 through the conduits 81,83 to shiftconveyor 22 toward the elevator. The initial movement of conveyor 22from the position illustrated in FIG. 4 will cause rollers 80 to rolldown the inclined surfaces 61 of wedges 60. As rollers 80 move down theinclined surface the weight on the rollers 80 is transferred to rollers140 carried by conveyor 22. Rollers 140 are supported by the wedges 90as the rollers move over the horizontal surface 91 and the slopingsurface 93 to align the tracks of the transfer conveyor with the trackson the shelf and to engage gears 20 and 44. By again actuating handle126 rollers 34 are again rotated to move the load toward the elevator.Rollers 12 are activated by the gear train 20,42,44 and the chain andsprocket to move the load onto the shelf.

A locking device comprising a lever 142 pivotally mounted on each of thechannels 14 carries a tooth 144 for engagement between the teeth ofgears 20. The lever is biased by a spring 146 to urge tooth 144 intolocking engagement with gear 20 whereby to lock the rollers againstrotation to thereby prevent shifting of the load.

The shifting of the load by manipulation of handles 118,126,132, and 138has been described in detail but it is to be understood that lcontemplate the use of automatic devices to accomplish this purpose aswell as to unload the elevator at the unloading station.

Having described my invention I desire it to be understood that furthermodifications and changes may be made within the skill of the art.

I claim 1. A material handling device comprising a shelf, means formoving said shelf between a pair of vertically located stations, meansfor transferring material to and from the shelf at said stations, andmeans shiftable into contact with an edge zone of the shelf forsupporting said shelf during the transfer of the material, wherein themeans for transferring the material comprises a pair of roller tracksmounted on the shelf, means drivably interconnecting at least some ofthe rollers of each track for conveying the material along the shelf, atransfer conveyor comprising a pair of roller tracks shiftably mountedat each station for movement toward and away from the shelf, meansdrivably interconnecting at least some of the rollers of each track ofsaid transfer conveyor for conveying material along the transferconveyor, means for shifting the tracks of said transfer conveyor intoalignment with the tracks on the shelf, and means for drivinglyinterconnecting the drivably interconnected rollers of the tracksmounted on the shelf with the drivably interconnected rollers of thetransfer conveyor.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for drivablyinterconnecting the rollers of each track comprises a sprocket securedto each of the at least some of the rollers and a chain trained over thesprockets.

3. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein the means for drivablyinterconnecting the rollers comprises a drive gear carried by each ofsaid aligned tracks and drivably secured to one of said drivablyinterconnected rollers of the associated track, an idler gear carried byone of said tracks in permanent engagement with one of said drive gearsand in separable engagement with the other of said drive gears.

4. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for shifting thetracks comprises a carriage, means pivotally mounting one end of eachtrack on the carriage, and a motor for driving the carriage.

5. A material handling device comprising a shelf, means for moving saidshelf between a pair of vertically located stations, means fortransferring material to and from the shelf at said stations, and meansshiftable under and into contact with an edge zone of the shelf forsupporting said shelf during the transfer of the material, the means forsupporting the shelf comprises a wedge, said transferring meanscomprises a transfer conveyor shiftable toward and away from the shelf,and

means supporting said conveyor on said wedge.

* l i t

1. A material handling device comprising a shelf, means for moving saidshelf between a pair of vertically located stations, means fortransferring material to and from the shelf at said stations, and meansshiftable into contact with an edge zone of the shelf for supportingsaid shelf during the transfer of the material, wherein the means fortransferring the material comprises a pair of roller tracks mounted onthe shelf, means drivably interconnecting at least some of the rollersof each track for conveying the material along the shelf, a transferconveyor comprising a pair of roller tracks shiftably mounted at eachstation for movement toward and away from the shelf, means drivablyinterconnecting at least some of the rollers of each track of saidtransfer conveyor for conveying material along the transfer conveyor,means for shifting the tracks of said transfer conveyor into alignmentwith the tracks on the shelf, and means for drivingly interconnectingthe drivably interconnected rollers of the tracks mounted on the shelfwith the drivably interconnected rollers of the transfer conveyor.
 2. Adevice as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for drivablyinterconnecting the rollers of each track comprises a sprocket securedto each of the at least some of the rollers and a chain trained over thesprockets.
 3. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein the means fordrivably interconnecting the rollers comprises a drive gear carried byeach of said aligned tracks and drivably secured to one of said drivablyinterconnected rollers of the associated track, an idler gear carried byone of said tracks in permanent engagement with one of said drive gearsand in separable engagement with the other of said drive gears.
 4. Adevice as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for shifting the trackscomprises a carriage, means pivotally mounting one end of each track onthe carriage, and a motor for driving the carriage.
 5. A materialhandling device comprising a shelf, means for moving said shelf betweena pair of vertically located stations, means for transferring materialto and from the shelf at said stations, and means shiftable under andinto contact with an edge zone of the shelf for supporting said shelfduring the transfer of the material, the means for supporting the shelfcomprises a wedge, said transferring means comprises a transfer conveyorshiftable toward and away from the shelf, and means supporting saidconveyor on said wedge.